You know, the New Me Year

Here we are. Another New Year upon us. You see all of these "New Year, New Me" posts and all of these resolutions.

Don't get me wrong, creating goals and resolutions are good. When you make them realistic and achievable. But let's be honest, how many do we make every year that we never follow through with.

Maybe because we put to much pressure like "I'm going to drop 20 pounds by Spring Break" or "I'm not going to drink coke at all this year."

Though both of these are doable for some people, they aren't fully realistic if you know you aren't going to commit. 

Now I did come across this post Here and Here which I really enjoyed reading and would like to include in my Goals for 2017.

Other Goals I have are:

• To hit 10,000 steps a day! 
• I'd also like to make sure to run every Saturday. 
•  To add to the running, I'd like to run 10-16 miles a WEEK.  
• In March I'd like to run my first Half-Marathon. 
• I'd also like to try to do two Trifectas (Spartan Races) this year. This problem with this is finding the second Beast near me. (here is more information on the Spartan Races) 
• And for my last one. I've ordered my first bullet journal and I plan to use that to organize my life as well as just journal and track important details. Such as what I eat, my sleep, my workouts, and my classes.

Though these Goals to some may seem extreme. It isn't much more than I do already. The Half Marathon is new, and doubling up on the Spartan Races is just three more races than I did last year. 

Hello 2017 (10 days later ha) I'm ready for you!

Third Trip to Grandma's House We Go

Like I mentioned last year here we visit Grandma Casper every Summer.

This year's visit we were missing many more family members than the first Summer Ryleigh went. Only my parents Ryleigh and myself were able to visit this Summer.

But that is okay we still had a total blast.

Of course my little travel buddy is still perfect on the road.

And really enjoyed spending time with her Great-Great Grandma.

Here are some pictures from this year's trip!!

The fashonista goes nowhere without her purse

Gamma and Ryleigh enjoying the view

Feeding the ducks

Her first pedicure

Now mommy's turn

Happy Fourth of July from this Fire Cracker

We also went back to the Cradle of Forestry like in 2014

Ryleigh and I on the train like in 2014

Almost finished with the walking and we ended up rained on. We got soaked.

And here is Ryleigh and Great Great Grandma Casper two years later!

Hiking in Big Bend National Park

With the New Year here and the start of the New Year not being what we wanted/expected it to begin in such a way, E decided to take us down to Big Bend for a day trip.

He wanted us to get out and get some fresh air and forget about the real life and pain for a few hours. 

Big Bend is a only about 70 miles or less from where we live so the drive was nice. The weather was perfect. The VIEWS were amazing as always.

Once we got to Big Bend we decided to do the Window Trail. Its a pretty lengthy trail with a pretty good elevation coming back out of the trail. The view is PERFECT!!

The 'backpack' Ryleigh is in was given to us by my God sister. She used it with her boys. Then she gave it to her friend who used it for her son, and then we got it. We've used it a short amount of times but every time she's really enjoyed the ride.

If you've never been to Big Bend you need to get out here and go! Go camp! Go Hike! GET OUTDOORS!!

Start of the New Year

Hi All!

Sorry I've been MIA again. School this semester really kicked my butt but I kicked it back making the Dean List! I worked hard and it paid off!!

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year at our tiny home. My parents and family went on a cruise and only E's mom came for dinner. It was nice and yummy as always. My turkey fell off the bone. It was wonderful.

This year for Christmas we celebrated at my parent's house. We got up and my parents came over to watch Ryleigh open all of her gifts from Santa. Then E had to go to work to cover for a few hours. Once he got home he needed to go to sleep as he had to go back to work that night. So Ryleigh and I went to my parents for dinner and to just play.

For Christmas Ryleigh got a cool Frozen quad from her God Father. She really enjoys riding that thing! We let her take it down the street for a ride and she had a blast doing tricks and such on it haha.

Though on NYE my mom called me mid morning to tell me the news of my God Brother John passing away. It was definitely sudden and heartbreaking. He along with my Dad, myself, and a few others were planning to tackle the Spartan Trifecta and race this coming year.

John was loved by many. He was Ryleigh's best friend. He would go to my God Mother's during lunch everyday. He would eat lunch with Ryleigh and then take her for a walk outside to play. He would post pictures of the two of them all the time. He sure did love our Ryleigh.

Here are some pictures and John together. He will truly be missed.

October 14th

 

 

Last night we celebrated Ryleigh's 18 month birthday.

 

I cannot believe she is 1.5 years old already.

 

She is so smart, so silly, so beautiful, so PERFECT

 

She can jump, she can roll over her head. She runs so fast. She can climb to the top of a playground set and slide down all by herself.

 

She can say: Nana (banana), momma, dada, gramma, bebe, SAKA (Kassandra), and many other words that I've lost count on. She has also mastered repeating what others say. LOL

 

She knows and she'll tell you she is BATMAN!

 

Some of her favorite people are her gramma Laura, who she probably loves the most. SAKA, who she knows instantly. And her best friend, her cousin Adayna.

 

Her favorite foods are: bananas, spaghetti, beans, rice, and oatmeal.

 

She tells everyone in passing "HI."

 

She also just learned how to tell people "Peace" and throw up the deuces. (Well she throws her pointer finger but good enough).

 

She loves to give kisses to those she loves. And she has almost mastered "I love you." 
She loves her Bebe dolls and her kitchen, but she also loves the dirt outside.

 

 

She is such joy to have and be around. She turns all the bad days into good nights. 

Labor Day Weekend

Now that E is home we get to spend lots of time as a family.

Of course we get Labor Day off so E and I decided to drive to San Antonio Friday night and stay for the weekend.

We took Ryleigh to the Alamo and to the Zoo. We also visited the Wax Museum and Ripley's.

We also had the chance to take Ryleigh on a carriage ride pulled by horses. She loved the weekend as did E and I!